1. According to Kautilya’s Arthashastra, which of the following are correct? [UPSC CSE 2022]
A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.
If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.
If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master’s son.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) 1 and 2
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: b) 2 and 3 only
2. Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? [UPSC CSE 2020]
“Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”
a) Ashoka
b) Samudragupta
c) Harshavardhana
d) Krishanadeva Raya
Correct Answer: a) Ashoka
3. Consider the following statements: [UPSC CSE 2003]
The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha was assassinated by his commander in chief, Pushyamitra Sunga.
The last Sunga king, Devabhuti was assassinated by his Brahmana minister Vasudeva Kanva who usurped the throne.
The last ruler of the Kanva dynasty was deposed by the Andhras.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2
b) Only 2
c) Only 3
d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: d) 1, 2 and 3
4. Which one of the following dynasties was ruling over North India at the time of Alexander’s invasion? [UPSC CSE 2000]
a) Nanda
b) Maurya
c) Sunga
d) Kanva
Correct Answer: a) Nanda
5. Assertion (A): Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire. Reason (R): Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to South India. [UPSC CSE 2000]
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
c) A is true, but R is false
d) A is false, but R is true
Correct Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
6. Assertion (A): According to Asoka’s edicts social harmony among the people was more important than religious devotion. Reason (R): He spread ideas of equity instead of promotion of religion. [UPSC CSE 1998]
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
c) A is true, but R is false
d) A is false, but R is true
Correct Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
7. With reference to the invaders in ancient India, which one of the following is the correct chronological order? [UPSC CSE 2006]
a) Greeks . Sakas . Kushans
b) Greeks . Kushans . Sakas
c) Sakas . Greeks . Kushans
d) Sakas . Kushans . Greeks
Correct Answer: a) Greeks . Sakas . Kushans
8. From the third century AD, when the Hun invasion ended the Roman Empire, the Indian merchants relied more and more on the: [UPSC CSE 1999]
a) African trade
b) West-European trade
c) South-East Asian trade
d) Middle-Eastern trade
Correct Answer: c) South-East Asian trade
9. The Indo-Greek kingdom set up in north Afghanistan in the beginning of the second century BC was: [UPSC CSE 1999]
a) Bactria
b) Scythia
c) Zedrasia
d) Aria
Correct Answer: a) Bactria
10. Many of the Greeks, Kushanas and Shakas embraced Buddhism rather than Hinduism because: [UPSC CSE 1998]
a) Buddhism was in the ascendant at that time
b) They had renounced the policy of war and violence
c) Caste-ridden Hinduism did not attract them
d) Buddhism provided easier access to Indian society
Correct Answer: d) Buddhism provided easier access to Indian society
11. What is the correct chronological order in which the following appeared in India? [UPSC CSE 1998]
I. Gold coins
II. Punch-marked silver coins
III. Iron plough
IV. Urban culture
Select the correct answer:
a) III, IV, I, II
b) III, IV, II, I
c) IV, III, I, II
d) IV, III, II, I
Correct Answer: d) IV, III, II, I
12. With reference to the history of India, the terms ‘kulyavapa’ and ‘dronavapa’ denote: [UPSC CSE 2020]
a) Measurement of land
b) Coins of different monetary value
c) Classification of urban land
d) Religious rituals
Correct Answer: a) Measurement of land
13. With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were known as: [UPSC CSE 2020]
a) Ports handling foreign trade
b) Capitals of powerful kingdoms
c) Places of exquisite stone art and architecture
d) Important of Buddhist pilgrimage centres
Correct Answer: a) Ports handling foreign trade
14. With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct? [UPSC CSE 2019]
a) It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
b) It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire.
c) The forced labourer was entitled to weekly wages.
d) The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced labourer.
Correct Answer: a) It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
15. With reference to the guilds (Shreni) of ancient India that played a very important role in the country’s economy, which of the following statements is/are correct? [UPSC CSE 2012]
Every guild was registered with the central authority of the State and the king was the chief administrative authority on them.
The wages, rules of work, standards and prices were fixed by the guild.
The guild had judicial powers over its own members.
Choose the correct option:
a) 1 & 2 Only
b) 3 Only
c) 2 & 3 Only
d) 1, 2, & 3
Correct Answer: c) 2 & 3 Only
16. Consider the following statements: [UPSC CSE 2004]
The Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien attended the fourth Great Buddhist Council held by Kanishka.
The Chinese pilgrim Huan-Tsang met Harsha and found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: d) Neither 1 nor 2
17. Which one of the following ports handled the north Indian trade during the Gupta period? [UPSC CSE 1999]
a) Tamralipti
b) Broach
c) Kalyan
d) Cambray
Correct Answer: a) Tamralipti
18. The silver coins issued by the Guptas were called: [UPSC CSE 1997]
a) Rupaka
b) Karshapana
c) Dinara
d) Pana
Correct Answer: a) Rupaka
19. In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta Period women and sudras speak: [UPSC CSE 1995]
a) Sanskrit
b) Prakrit
c) Pali
d) Sauraseni
Correct Answer: b) Prakrit
20. From the decline of Guptas until the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, which of the following kingdoms were holding power in Northern India? [UPSC CSE 2021]
The Guptas of Magadha
The Paramaras of Malwa
The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar
The Maukharis of Kanauj
The Yadavas of Devagiri
The Maitrakas of Valabhi
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
a) 1, 2 and 5
b) 1, 3, 4 and 6
c) 2, 3 and 4
d) 5 and 6
Correct Answer: b) 1, 3, 4 and 6
21. Emperor Harsha’s southward march was stopped on the Narmada river by: [UPSC CSE 2003]
a) Pulakesin I
b) Pulakesin II
c) Vikramaditya I
d) Vikramaditya II
Correct Answer: b) Pulakesin II
22. In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs: [UPSC CSE 2016]
Term — Description
Eripatti: Land, revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank
Taniyurs: Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins
Ghatikas: Colleges generally attached to the temples
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
a) 1 and 2
b) 3 only
c) 2 and 3
d) 1 and 3
Correct Answer: d) 1 and 3
23. Consider the following statements: [UPSC CSE 2003]
The Cholas defeated Pandya and Chera rulers and established their domination over peninsular India in early medieval times.
The Cholas sent an expedition against the Sailendra empire of South-East Asia and conquered some of the areas.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: c) Both 1 and 2
24. Which one of the Chola kings conquered Ceylon? [UPSC CSE 2001]
a) Aditya I
b) Rajaraja I
c) Rajendra
d) Vijayalaya
Correct Answer: c) Rajendra
25. Which one of the following was a corporation of merchants in ancient India? [UPSC CSE 1997]
a) Chaturvedimangalam
b) Parishad
c) Ashtadikgaja
d) Manigrama
Correct Answer: d) Manigrama
26. Consider the following pairs: [UPSC CSE 2022]
King — Dynasty
Nannuka — Chandela
Jayashakti — Paramar
Nagabhata II — Gurjara-Pratihara
Bhoja — Rashtrakuta
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
a) Only one pair
b) Only two pairs
c) Only three pairs
d) All four pairs
Correct Answer: b) Only two pairs (Nannuka and Nagabhata II)
27. Consider the following events in the history of India: [UPSC CSE 2020]
Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja
Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman-I
Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka-I
Pala dynasty founded by Gopala
What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?
a) 2 – 1 – 4 – 3
b) 3 – 1 – 4 – 2
c) 2 – 4 – 1 – 3
d) 3 – 4 – 1 – 2
Correct Answer: c) 2 – 4 – 1 – 3
28. Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period? [UPSC CSE 2020]
a) An advisory issued by the king to his subordinates
b) A diary to be maintained for daily accounts
c) A bill of exchange
d) An order from the feudal lord to his subordinates
Correct Answer: c) A bill of exchange
29. Consider the following statements: [UPSC CSE 2006]
The Ikshvaku rulers of southern India were antagonistic towards Buddhism.
The Pala rulers of Eastern India were patrons of Buddhism.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: b) 2 only
